AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 10341, 15 June 1897, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

During the recent cyclone at Sydney a butcher named Fergusson bad a remarkable experience. He was serving a customer when he heard the rush of the approaching wind. His customer fled for his life across the street, and Fergusson sought to protect, his property by putting up the shutters. The force of the wind, however, drove him back against the counter, and an instant later a loud crash caused him to rush to the back door. He then saw the roof of his own house settling down upon the roof of a cottage standing at the bottom of his yard. These premises were occupied by a woman and child, and the inmates had a marvellous escape, for a joist from the wrecked roof pierced the ceiling to within a few inches of where they were standing. On proceeding upstairs in his house Fergusson found the windows blown in and the furniture driven against the walls and smashed to fragments. The heavy rain which accompanied the tornado completed the work of destruction. The training ship Sobraon, lying off Cockatoo Island, had a narrow escape from foundering during the height of the tornado. The vessel was caught broadside on by the wind, and at once heeled, with the result ] that the port portholes, which are cut nearer the water line than in a ship in seagoing trim, were submerged. The water at once began to rush into the vessel in great quantities, and it was with some difficulty that the portholes were closed. The lads on board behaved splendidly, and it was due to their excellent discipline that this work was accomplished. Had there been any faltering, on the part of the officials the vessel would inevitably have foundered, with a probable serious loss of life. The boys were subsequently ranged on the weather side of the vessel to act as live ballast until the vessel was righted and swung round. A fight between two girls of the forest for the possession of a young man led to the appearance of the principals at the Trentham (Victoria) Court last week. The affair look place at North Blackwood Settlement last Sunday week, the girls concerned being Annie Thorneycraft and Malvina Aurish. The former was charged with assaulting the latter, and fined 20a and £2 4s fid costs. Malvina Aurish was then charged, with insulting behaviour on the occasion, but the case was dismissed. Great interest was taken in the cases, the parties being well known in the district. '